Apparatus for housing a linearized optical fiber amplifier

Abstract

The invention is directed to an apparatus for housing a linearized optical fiber amplifier (LOFA) circuit. The apparatus includes a body member, preferably made of foam plastic material, that defines cavities to receive the components of the LOFA circuit including a dispersion compensation fiber (DCF) reel. The apparatus includes opposing arcuate members about which optical fibers coupling components of the LOFA circuit are looped. Retaining rings fitted over the first and second arcuate members and supported by at least one surface defined in the body member, can be used to separate each optical fiber from others to provide organization and to prevent entanglement of the optical fibers. A reel receptacle member receives and holds an active fiber (AF) reel of the LOFA circuit. The reel receptacle member can be placed between the arcuate members to be held therebetween. The body member can be fitted into a case, preferably made of a rigid, lightweight material such as aluminum, that protects the LOFA circuit from damage due to shock or impact.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for housing a linearized optical fiber amplifier (LOFA) having a plurality of individual components, said apparatus comprising: a body member having first and second sides; and   a first cavity in said first side and a plurality of cavities in said second side, said plurality of cavities defining different levels within said second side of said body member at least one of said cavities being configured to receive one or more of the components of the LOFA circuit.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second cavity is configured to receive a wave division multiplexer (WDM). 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said body member has first and second arcuate members arranged on opposite sides of said second cavity, said arcuate members being adapted to leave wound thereabout at least one optical fiber coupling component of the LOFA circuit and to store at least one splice joining the optical fiber coupling components of the LOFA circuit. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said body member has first and second surfaces positioned on opposing sides of said one cavity that receives the WDM, said first and second surfaces being adapted to provide support for the optical fiber and said retaining ring. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a protective case having a cover member is adapted to receive said body member, the apparatus further comprising: a circuit board mounted to said cover member, having a connector and electronic circuitry coupled thereto, said connector being aligned with an aperture defined in the case when said case is assembled; and   a pump laser mounted to the circuit board and coupled to said electronic circuitry,   wherein the pump laser is adapted to receive electric power from the electronic circuitry through the connector when a plug coupled to a power supply is inserted through the aperture in the case and coupled to the connector, said pump laser upon application of power generating laser light and being coupled to supply the laser light to the LOFA circuit, said cover functioning as a heat sink for said pump laser.   
     
     
       6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: an input optical connector mounted to the case, the input connector being coupled to the LOFA circuit and capable of receiving a connecting member terminating an optical fiber cable that carries an input optical signal to the LOFA circuit.   
     
     
       7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: at least one output connector mounted to the case, the output connector being adapted to be coupled to the LOFA circuit to receive an optical output signal generated by the LOFA circuit based on the optical input signal and the laser light generated by said pump laser, the output connector being adapted to receive a connector coupled to a second optical fiber cable for transmitting the optical output signal generated by the LOFA circuit from the apparatus.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a reel receptacle member having first and second opposing side members, said receptacle member being capable of being inserted between said first and second arcuate members to be held therebetween; and   an active fiber reel for storing at least one active fiber of the LOFA circuit, fitted between said first and second side members of said reel receptacle member.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said first and second arcuate members has a radius of curvature that is greater than or equal to the minimum bending radius of the optical fiber. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: at least one retaining ting adapted to be fitted over said first and second arcuate members to confine at least one optical fiber coupling component of the LOFA circuit.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said body member has at least one opening therein communicating with said first cavity in said first side of said body member and said second cavity in said second side of the body member, said opening allowing passage of at least one optical fiber coupled between the DCF reel housed in said first cavity of said body member and said additional WDM of the LOFA circuit housed in said second said cavity of said body member. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body member is composed of foam plastic material. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a protective case into which said body member is fitted.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first cavity is configured to receive a dispersion compensation fiber (DCF) reel of the LOFA circuit. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second side of said body member has at least one groove therein communicating with at least said second cavity said groove being adapted to receive an optical fiber of a LOFA circuit component housed in the cavity.